Software

Bookeen has just announced their latest e-reader, the Odyssey a couple of weeks ago, and today they unveiled new information regarding their fast E Ink display system. The new technology - which they call High Speed Ink System technology or (HSIS) is based on an E Ink Pearl touch display, a TI Cortex A8 processor (which Bookeen said was developed in partnership with TI) and optimized software and algorithms developed by Bookeen.

The Odyssey is capable of fast page refreshes, video, scrollable menus and scrollable web-browser and more - all this on a monochrome 6" E Ink pearl display of course. Bookeen has been showing prototype HSIS devices since early 2011.

We're proud to announce our first Kindle game software: Nonograms. Nonograms (also known as Griddlers or Paint By Numbers) are simple yet challenging Japanese logic puzzle games in which your goal is to uncover the hidden black and white picture. Download this exciting game now for $2.99! If you like SuDoKu puzzles, you'll surely love Nonograms...

The puzzles contain a grid with number clues on the sides that help to reveal the hidden picture. The numbers measure how many blocks of black square there are in any given row and column, and the size of these blocks.

Update: iRiver's e-reader is now shipping

Google announced that iRiver's Story HD will be the first Google eBooks-integrated e-reader. iRiver will start offering the new device (which is the same hardware, but with the integrated eBooks store) next week at Target - for $139.99.

3M announced that it invested in Germany's txtr, via its 3M New Ventures and 3M Electro & Communications Business. Txtr is developing e-book stores and reading applications for iOS and Android. We do not know how much money 3M invested, but txtr's CEO Christophe Maire said that the investment was 'considerable'.

txtr abandoned e-reader prototype

txtr also developed an e-reader device but abandoned that project towards the end of 2010.

In the past few weeks I've been busy developing a new game for the Kindle. I'm looking for a Kindle DX owner that's willing to do some beta testing on the game (as I don't have a DX myself and I need to make sure the game looks good in the larger display, too). The testing shouldn't take long - I'm mostly interested to hear that it looks good, and it's a simple game.

If you're interested, please contact me. Thanks!

As we reported a few days ago, Barnes & Noble's have released a new update to the Nook Color - that updates the device's OS to Android v2.3 (Froyo) and enables Flash web browsing, application and games downloads, e-mail and more. You can download the update now, and this will rolled out via WiFi over the 'coming weeks'.

Amazon announced that it will launch a library lending feature for the Kindle (all generations and Kindle Apps for your computer or phone). Annotations in your books will be saved if you check out the book again (or if you decide to buy it).

This service is powered by OverDrive (which also powers Sony's similar server).